Daily Readings - Sat Nov 11 2017

First Reading - Romans 16.3-9, 16, 22-27

³Greet Prisca and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus⁴who have risked their own necks on behalf of my life, for whom I give thanks, not I alone, but also all the churches of the Gentiles⁵and greet the church at their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is among the first-fruits of Asia in Christ⁶Greet Mary, who has labored much among you⁷Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and fellow captives, who are noble among the Apostles, and who were in Christ prior to me⁸Greet Ampliatus, most beloved to me in the Lord⁹Greet Urbanus, our helper in Christ Jesus, and Stachys, my beloved¹⁶Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you²²I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord²³Gaius, my host, and the entire church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother²⁴The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen²⁵But to him who is able to confirm you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, in accord with the revelation of the mystery which has been hidden from time immemorial²⁶(which now has been made clear through the Scriptures of the Prophets, in accord with the precept of the eternal God, unto the obedience of faith) which has been made known among all the Gentiles²⁷to God, who alone is wise, through Jesus Christ, to him be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen

Gospel - Luke 16.9-15

Luke

Chapter 16

⁹And so I say to you, make friends for yourself using iniquitous mammon, so that, when you will have passed away, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles¹⁰Whoever is faithful in what is least, is also faithful in what is greater. And whoever is unjust in what is small, is also unjust in what is greater¹¹So then, if you have not been faithful with iniquitous mammon, who will trust you with what is true¹²And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours¹³No servant is able to serve two lords. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will cling to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.¹⁴But the Pharisees, who were greedy, were listening to all these things. And they ridiculed him¹⁵And he said to them: "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of men. But God knows your hearts. For what is lifted up by men is an abomination in the sight of God

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two distinct yet interconnected themes: the importance of community and the prudent use of resources. The first reading from Romans is a heartfelt farewell from Paul, where he acknowledges the contributions of various individuals and communities, highlighting the value of unity and mutual support. This passage emphasizes the strength found in shared faith and collaboration. The Gospel from Luke, however, shifts focus to Jesus’ teachings on wealth and service, urging us to use our resources wisely and remain faithful in our stewardship, while cautioning against the pitfalls of greed and the impossibility of serving both God and money. The connection between these readings lies in their emphasis on relationships—whether with others or with material wealth. Paul’s letter underscores the bonds within the Christian community, while Jesus’ parable reminds us that our relationship with wealth is a reflection of our faithfulness. Both readings call us to trustworthiness and integrity, whether in our interactions with others or in our management of resources. In our daily lives, these teachings encourage us to be faithful in our duties and generous with our resources, using them to foster positive relationships and support others. The moral lesson here is clear: prioritize God over material wealth, cultivate a spirit of service, and embrace generosity. By doing so, we build a community grounded in faith and trustworthiness, reflecting the values upheld by Paul and taught by Jesus.